Firm accused of felling 300 trees and building holiday lodges in ancient woodland

The obscure agricultural firm bought a 33-acre plot of woodland called Jacobs Farm in Silsden, Keighley, for £1.05m two years ago.

It is now accused of chopping down hundreds of trees, building the lodges, adjacent septic tanks and roadways without planning consent.

The woodland is home to protected animals like "bats and breeding birds".

Bradford Metropolitan District Council has issued an enforcement notice demanding plant 300 trees are planted to replace those lost and the site reverted to its previous state.

The enforcement notice claims that five large concrete pads - four of which have had a holiday homes built on - as well as four septic tanks, an access track, have been built in the past 10 years.

It also says "stockpiled" earth and aggregate are being stored without permission.

However the firm - Azara Gid San - have appealed the decision, claiming themselves as an "innocent party" and that work was done prior to purchase of the land.

Database searches suggests the firm it is engaged in production and export activities in Turkey of cooking items like olive oil and spices.

They claim that all works were "completed prior to the acquisition of the site" and the works have "become immune, due to the passage of time".

A number of wildlife groups have since raised concerns over the works, stating they are "invaluable homes" for animals.

Penny Hunt, Co-Founder, Yorkshire Dales Wildlife Rescue, said: "Ancient woodlands are incredibly special and are absolutely irreplaceable.

"Our wildlife populations are in a precarious state and healthy woodlands give them a safe home from which to thrive."

According to Carter Jonas Estate Agents, Jacobs Wood Farm was last sold two years ago.

In the property description, there is a reference to three other properties on the land but there is no detail of the alleged works.

The enforcement notice comes after a Temporary Stop Notice was previously enforced by the council in September 2025 after they became aware of "unauthorised development" being completed the same February.

It "prohibited" the works and ordered them to "cease".

And now the council’s enforcement notice said the unauthorised works have caused a "harmful effect on the openness of the Green Belt"

They say the tree loss has resulted in a diminished appearance of the "Airedale Landscape" which is located within zone of influence of the South Pennine Moors Special Protection Area".

It is believed the woodland is over 500 years old.

And the land has rich "ground flora" which is "important for wildlife" including protected species such as bats and breeding birds.

Chiefs have since demanded that all land changes be reversed in six months from March 3 and that 300 trees be replanted to repair the "irreplaceable" woodland they allege has been lost by March 2027.

In the appeal notice, the appellant states the buildings also provide holiday let accommodation, which"complement the existing permitted holiday lets on site" and the new buildings "support the local economy".

And that following Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture in 2025, "demand for holiday lets in the region has increased".

Sam Dewar, Director of Dewar Planning Associates, who is acting on behalf of the appellant, said the enforcement notice isn't "justified".

He said: "The council have wholly misinterpreted planning policy with regards the ‘ground A’ (enforcement notice) aspect of the enforcement appeal.

"Whilst we accept that the alleged buildings and hardstanding were built without planning our understanding is that they were completed prior to my clients purchase, albeit apart from the forestry maintenance building."

They say the council's current actions have been "extremely disappointing" and also claim they have been "very aggressive".

They said they would be "more than happy to come to a suitable solution" with the council however they have not been "forthcoming in that regard".

In response to the appeal, a spokesperson for the council said the "assessed" development requires planning permission.

They also said the landowner has taken no action to resolve the Stop Notice breach.

In relation to the claim the works would boost local tourism they said the "small benefit would not represent very special circumstances to outweigh the demonstrable harm to the greenbelt".

The council also disputes the appellant's claim that the development is immune from enforcement action by reason of the passage of time.

They said "Google Earth images demonstrate that there is no evidence of development taking place on the land prior to May 2025".

An appeal hearing regarding the works is set to take place on Tuesday, July 21.

Dewar Planning Associates have been approached for further comment.